#launda needs a break

[sldlovescartoons]

Against my better judgement, I’d like to risk making the whole Orym Vs Launda situation worse by digging into Launda’s Addiction Metaphor a bit.

So, let’s says your operating a small company that does some sort of important job. Like, if you don’t get your work done and the business goes under, lots to people will get hurt. One of your friends and coworkers is a bit of a coke head, but they are a very high functioning addict. Hell, they may be MORE productive when they use. It wasn’t even clear she had a problem until she ODed and spent some time in a medically induced coma. Your company gets this huge contract and it’s really important. If y’all fail the consequences for your company, employees and clients is massive. So you tell your recovering coke head friend to do whatever they needed to… and they agree and take a trip to the bathroom.

Everybody knows they have started using again, but goddamn are they getting shit done. She disappears into the bathroom and then pulls and all nighter that saves their asses so everybody is just choosing to not do anything. Things probably wouldn’t get too bad, she’s not one of THOSE addicts.

Then she breaks into one of their houses to steal shit to pawn for more cocaine and attacks them. She’s clearly high.

Would they deserve it for enabling them? Would it be wrong to get pissed with them? How would you feel if your coworkers defended them try to rob you? So on and so forth. It’s not a perfect metaphor, I know. I’ll probably delete this post after a while if I bother to post it- I’ve likely just pissed lots of people off. Oops.

[inconmess]

Collecting my thoughts because I had a chaotic morning and didn't really have my laptop to live post so...

First things first, Delilah is finally in the soul anchor and it is great! The whole ritual and the contributions by the whole group and everything was just so 🥺🥺🥺🥺

Imogen and Launda are back together again!

We need a celebration indeed and I was rooting for a bar crawl but they are understandably exhausted so I have no issues of them not heading out

Braius backstory is dug up! And damn that was a nice touch to link it with the Mighty Nein (it was a M9 reference right? I didn't really watch it but I have heard of it) and him changing the painting on the armour at will :)

Luddy duddy discussion again and I will have to rewatch it cuz a lot was going on in that scene but I think there was some disagreement 👀 which was kinda put on hold? I hope it's dug back up at some point

Braius and the Pipe!!! That visual was so cool!!!!

There were some interesting moments post the break and the panic travel to Vasselheim and the descriptions and callbacks (I'm sure I didn't catch all of them but it was so cool!)

GROG MENTION!!! I technically caught it the moment Matt said described "heavy hand" even before he spoke the voice but that was a nice confirmation!

And damn they are now stuck in the middle of important people with info they will not like at all and dangerous knowledge! I want to see the aftermath so bad and I don't have the patience 😭

A part of me desperately wants to put off the trip I'm planning with my friends next weekend so that I can catch the episode but I have to rein myself in because we've been planning a really long time but I don't want to miss it 😭😭😭😭

But the episode was a good one and Delilah is gone so... Cheers

Just wish the Hells had a day off tho :( they really need a spa day

Also waiting to see if the Silken Squall is here. And if one of the Matron reps are Lieve'tel

[sotrue99]

 Discover the Joy of Laughter: The Rise of Comedy Apps in India                       

In today’s fast-paced world, where stress and anxiety have become part of daily life, humor acts as a much-needed antidote. With the rise of digital platforms, accessing quality comedic content has never been easier. Enter the comedy app – a platform dedicated to bringing smiles and laughter to millions of users. In India, where humor transcends language and cultural barriers, the demand for such platforms has skyrocketed. Let's delve into the world of comedy apps and explore how they are revolutionizing the landscape of stand-up comedy, particularly highlighting the best stand-up comedy Indian performers.

 The Comedy App Revolution

A comedy app is designed to curate and deliver humorous content directly to your smartphone or tablet. These apps offer a wide variety of comedic genres, including stand-up routines, sketches, memes, and funny videos, catering to a broad spectrum of tastes. For Indian users, comedy apps have become a gateway to discover both emerging and established comedians.

One of the primary reasons for the popularity of comedy apps is their convenience. Users can watch their favorite comedians anytime, anywhere. The apps also offer features like personalized recommendations, offline viewing, and social sharing, enhancing the user experience.

 Best Stand-Up Comedy in India

The stand-up comedy scene in India has grown phenomenally over the last decade. With platforms like YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, and Netflix, Indian comedians have found new avenues to showcase their talent. However, comedy apps specifically dedicated to humor provide a more focused experience. Here are some of the best stand-up comedy Indian acts you can find on these platforms:

1. Vir Das: Known for his sharp wit and insightful commentary on societal issues, Vir Das is a household name. His performances are a blend of humor and thought-provoking content, making him a favorite on comedy apps.

2. Biswa Kalyan Rath: Biswa’s observational comedy and unique delivery style have earned him a massive following. His relatable content about everyday life in India strikes a chord with audiences across the country.

3. Kenny Sebastian: With his charming demeanor and versatile content ranging from music to hilarious anecdotes, Kenny Sebastian is another standout performer. His shows are a perfect mix of laughter and light-hearted fun.

4. Zakir Khan: Famous for his catchphrase "Sakht Launda," Zakir Khan’s rustic humor and storytelling prowess have made him immensely popular. His shows often reflect the trials and tribulations of the common man, presented in a humorous light.

5. Aditi Mittal: Breaking barriers in a male-dominated field, Aditi Mittal’s comedy addresses gender issues, societal norms, and more, with a humorous twist. She is one of India’s prominent female comedians, and her shows are a hit on comedy apps.

 The Benefits of Comedy Apps

Comedy apps offer several advantages that contribute to their growing popularity:

- Accessibility: Users can easily access a plethora of comedic content at their fingertips.

- Variety: From stand-up specials to short funny clips, there’s something for everyone.

- Engagement: Many apps feature interactive elements like live shows, Q&A sessions with comedians, and user-generated content.

 Conclusion

In a country as diverse and culturally rich as India, comedy apps have become an essential source of entertainment, bringing laughter and joy to millions. They not only offer a platform for established comedians to reach a wider audience but also provide a space for new talent to emerge. By offering the best stand-up comedy Indian acts and a vast array of funny videos, these apps are transforming the way we consume humor. So, the next time you need a break from the mundane, simply open your comedy app and dive into a world of endless laughter.

[digital-marketing-india]

[tiredqueermushroom]

There's something to be said about how skittish Laudna was during the Chetney fight. She put as much distance between her and Chetney as possible, she immediately put up her defense with form of Dread, giving her an hp boost as well as using mirror image to decrease the likelihood of her being hit. Not only that, but she didn't use more obvious offensive moves such as eldritch blast to avoid making herself a target; this is the first major fight since being resurrected.

She's afraid. Afraid of dying again, Laudna has always been aware of the fact she's on borrowed time but after being so abruptly confronted with her own mortality, it terrifies her.

[elliesgaymachete]

I'd like to personally SUE Laura (Bafta-winning) Bailey for personal damages this last few weeks, she is RPing her butt off and there needs to be a compilation of all the little reactions she does when it comes to Launda......(I didn't even ship it at first until the rock incident)

BRO RIGHT??? Like she spends 99% of the episodes fully in character and reacting to every tiny little mention or reminder of Laudna. Goddamn breaks my heart. Someone PLEASE make that compilation.

[miscellaneoustapes]

Yeah, we all noticed Launda going into a hyper-protective mode when they split up groups. It makes sense we know what Imogen means to Laudna and it is killing her to not be there for her. But if some much as a hair is hurt on Imogen's head at this point I'm convinced Launda would lose it. She has mentioned many times how “she would die if anything happens to Imogen” or “she would murder everyone near her if anything happened to Imogen” but this, this was desperate. She is not there to protect Imogen herself, and probably never thought of a time when they wouldn't be there for each other. She is afraid of what will happen. Afraid she won't get to love Imogen anymore, afraid Imogen won't ever love her again. Because they live in a very cruel world, where parting from someone you care for is dangerous. Laudna knows better than anyone what can happen when you aren't expecting it. I just know Laudna is going to break. And that is going to change so much with character dynamics, Laudna’s arch, and the overall BBEG arch because we all know who is in her head. Delilah is weak right now, but she has been weak before. All she needs is desperate a Laudna to gain power once again. And that is why I am thriving off of this precarious emotional situation.

[unicyclehippo]

Ooooh if your looking for imodna prompts, pernicious? No pressure!

laudna knows what it is even before she sees it because she slinks down off her perch with a pleased hiss, the sound looping and coiling in the back of laudna’s skull, the dark haunted recesses of her mind.

what did i tell you, my dear?

‘don’t,’ laudna growls. crosses her arms over her chest—but still she wants to reach out, grab it, take it, take the power in that blasted rock! clawed fingers - her own - sink into her shoulders and the spike of pain allows her to wrench free of its lure, stalk to the other side of the room.

don’t what? warn you?

‘don’t gloat.’

who needs to gloat, when they both know she has won today? and through no action of her own. who needs to gloat, when she’s so awfully, absolutely right?

‘i said don’t!’

those weren’t my thoughts, my dear.

launda flinches. her eyes slink back to the bag, carelessly abandoned at imogen’s bedside. or carefully placed to look abandoned? the rock sits in amongst her odds and ends; it looks so harmless there, just a rock, glowing with all the pretty low-light of a lightning bug.

delilah sits quietly for long enough that laudna twists herself up in her own thoughts. then, so sweetly it makes laudna’s teeth sting, she says,

i can handle this for you, if you like. save you from worrying about your precious girl, save both you and her from its influence.

‘and what influence is that? i’m tired of you talking around everything—if you know what it does, just tell me. tell me what it is!’

laudna’s head wrenches to the side. her gaze fixes on the mirror hung on their bedroom wall; it’s crooked, spotted with the tarnish of age. she isn’t quite sure if she had noticed it the mirror before now, and with that thought comes another tied to its tail—she wonders, if it’s true she hadn’t noticed it, whether that painful twist of her neck had been her. or if perhaps it belonged to the woman in the mirror who haunts her face, staring out at her plainly through the jade green, jealous green, malice green spark in her eye.

you make demands of me now? i saved you that night on the airship. i told you then that rock was too dangerous in your hands and i meant it. but, she tilts their head. you care only for the fact that its loss strained whatever it is between you and her. tell me, since you care so much about her and only her, is that care returned?

laudna digs nails into her skin. hopes, as black blood seeps from the wounds, that it hurts delilah too. even a little. let her feel the frailty of her vessel. ‘of course it is.’

ah. she’s apologised then, for blaming you? perhaps she thanked you for breaking the rock, which changed her in such pernicious, unsettling ways.

‘she need not thank me—‘

you say that only because you haven’t felt it. the way it sinks into you. makes you crave it even as it changes you, never for the better. such a thing would destroy you, my dear—that is why i took it away, she says, and if her irritation was the sharp scrape of clawed nails, her kindness is a gentle hand against her cheek. feigned kindness or not, it is still gentle. not to hurt you, but to help.

‘i - i don’t believe you.’

delilah smiles. such an expression laudna has never seen on her own face before; proud and pitying, the smile of a generous host watching commoners gorge themselves on a delicious, deadly feast.

you need not believe me, she allows, and that gentle hand is a light touch in its manoeuvring. tilts laudna’s head from the mirror to the bedside, to that sickly glowing rock. only ask yourself this—for what reason does she keep this secret from you?

[sammy431]

Restitution

This is technically a sequel to a short fic that can be found here, but can easily be a standalone. 

After an angry Orym and Imogen plead on behalf of Laudna’s life, the Hells prepare to a resurrection ritual. Success or fail, things will remain ever changing. 

Read on AO3 

Keyleth moved forward and set her hand gently on Laudna’s head as Vex left the room to gather the necessary diamond. “Three of you must offer something - words or a physical item - to help convince Laudna’s soul to return to this plane of existence. Which of you will do so?”

Orym was only dimly aware of Imogen and Ashton moving forward to stand with him, the sound of his own heartbeat was pounding in his ears, muffling everything. The grief, the guilt, the anger - everything blended together and some distant part of his brain wondered if he had finally snapped. He had never felt like this. 

He wondered if he had come back broken, like the universe had demanded balance for his life over Laudna’s and kept a piece of him behind. He felt so much that it was numbing. Orym avoided Keyleth’s gaze, knowing the Tempest could read him well after so many years. Her concern was typical, but nothing mattered but Laudna. 

Lady Vex’ahlia re-entered the room, a very large diamond already outstretched towards Keyleth. Her eyes darted towards Laudna and away again, some complicated emotion twisting her face into a grimace. “Are you ready?”

Keyleth nodded. “Yes. Who will speak first?” Her hands cupped the diamond over Laudna’s body, a soft green magic filling it and sending rainbows around the room. 

Imogen stepped forward immediately, grabbing Laudna’s hand with an almost feral desperation. “Laudna, please come back. I need you here - everything is too loud, too much. There’s an empty spot in my mind where you usually are, like a lullaby against the harsh world. Please... I love you. I can’t imagine life without your light in it. Come back to me.” 

After a moment, she looked up at Keyleth, unsure if it had been enough. At her gentle nod, Imogen stepped back and Ashton stepped forward. 

They stood awkwardly beside the table for a moment, then braced himself to lean over Launda’s body, staring intently at her closed eyes. “You and I had an understanding. We wanted the same thing for those we loved. You can’t leave me to take care of them alone. You get your ass back here and if that bitch is keeping you from us - remember what I said and break her fucking fingers.” 

Ashton stepped back, ignoring the curious looks he was getting from everyone, and pushed Orym forward. Orym didn’t move, unconsciously resisting with far more strength than he usually had. Ashton leaned over and looked into his eyes for a moment, seeming to search for something. Whether or not he found it, Orym wasn’t sure, but Ashton simply nodded. “That feeling? Use it.” 

Unsure of exactly how to do that, Orym nonetheless walked forward. The table was taller than him, but he simply walked up beside Laudna’s head and leaned up on his toes to whisper in her ear. He wasn’t sure he wanted anyone else to hear his words anyway. 

“You need to come back Laudna. You were already brought back once to be some demon’s puppet, and you’ve been isolated for so long. You need to have a chance to live - a real chance, not one left up to a fucking coin flip. A chance that you control, that you choose. But you can choose now - I said once that you were the happiest of us all and this group isn’t the same without you. You’re the weird little glue that held us together and I’m not sure that we’ll ever work properly unless you come back... I know I won’t.” Orym paused, a hand reaching up to touch the cold metal of her ear cuffs. “Choose life for yourself this time.” 

He stepped back and reached up to grab Imogen’s hand, idly noticing that despite the white knuckled grip she grabbed back with, he couldn’t feel the crushing strength he knew existed. 

The group stood in tense silence as Keyleth concentrated and the room began to pulse with green light shining through the different facets of the diamond. The light grew to an almost unbearable brightness before splintering into thousands of small shining pieces of diamond shard and settling over Laudna’s form like a blanket before sinking into her pale body. 

For one terrifying moment, it looked as if the ritual had failed despite their efforts. Then, in the space between one second and the next, Laudna’s body came back to life. She contorted as if electrified, a harsh gasp forcing itself out of her throat, hands reaching up to grab at the place she had been stabbed. 

Imogen burst into tears and rushed forward, grabbing a confused Laudna into a tight hug. The rest of the Hells followed, jostling Orym as they passed by. Orym remained rooted to the spot, struggling to process anything beyond the mess of emotions swirling in his stomach, intense but somehow comforting. As he raised his eyes past the group, found that Keyleth was watching him still, eyebrows furrowed and emotions unknown swirling in her green eyes. 

                                                          ~~~

Laudna stretched her limbs out carefully, feeling stiffer than usual. She had been shown to a small guest room where she could wash and regain her bearings. Imogen insisted on remaining with her, and while she would never mind Imogen’s company, she was especially grateful for it now. 

Her eyes carefully avoided the windows as she pulled on clean clothes and rearranged her hair ribbons. If she didn’t look at it, perhaps the city they were in wouldn’t matter. 

She understood why they had gone to Whitestone - was grateful for it - but it was... strange. Even just being within the main castle building she felt haunted, as if she was being followed by the footsteps of the bright and thoroughly alive young woman that had walked in here 30 years ago. 

“Do you know where my other ear cuff is? Did it fall off during the battle?” Laudna wasn’t very self conscious, but the sight of her crudely pointed ears was one she would never get used to. The jagged edges and uneven cuts felt ugly in a way nothing else did. The cuffs were beautifully crafted and had cost her quite a bit of coin. 

Imogen unconsciously glanced at the uncovered ear and tried to suppress a flinch. “It might still be back in that room. Orym took it off at some point.” 

Laudna frowned. “Orym? Why would he do that?”

“He threw it at Lady de Rolo while she was trying to delay the resurrection ritual. Told her that she owed you.” 

Laudna wasn’t really sure what to say in response to that. She didn’t really think the new Lady of Whitestone owed her anything - she hadn’t killed her after all - but she decided to move forward. “Well no harm. I’m alive now. Or well, more alive than I was. Still sort of dead.” She smiled at Imogen. 

Imogen wasn’t feeling forgiving though. “It was ridiculous,” she scoffed, “the cost of the spell and the diamond is basically nothing to them, but they were still just pussy-footing about. I’m glad Orym did something before I did. Lots of pretty stained glass in this place, it would be a shame to break it.” 

Uncomfortable with how angry Imogen looked, Laudna reached out and grabbed one of her clenched fists in both of her hands. “Imogen, it's fine. I’m back and we’ll be back on the road tomorrow. I’m okay now.” 

“But you weren’t, Laudna. You were dead.” 

“Imogen-”

“No!” Imogen ripped her arm from Laudna, the feelings of the past couple of days spilling over. “You were dead Laudna, you died because of me! That bitch stabbed you and then when I... when I lost control, you were buried under a fucking building! All this power and what’s the use of it if I can’t even use it to help you? Hell, I might’ve been the one that killed you!” 

Sparks started flying from Imogen, bright red points of light and electricity that faded before they struck anything. Her purple hair started to lift in the air. Laudna backed up unconsciously, unsure what to do. Now that she could see a little clearer, the red streaks on Imogen’s arms had extended, crawling up to her throat and down to her hands and they pulsed an angry red, almost like an alarm blaring an emergency signal. 

“Imogen? Imogen, I’m okay. I’m right here.” 

“But you weren’t! You weren’t here Laudna!” A nearby mirror cracked and splintered and the room shuddered with power. “You weren’t here and the world was too loud, it was too loud and your mind wasn’t here!” A vase shattered and the sound finally seemed to snap Imogen out of her spiral. 

Her gaze swung from the vase, to the mirror, to Laudna who was nervously wringing her hands. Imogen’s shoulders drooped. “I-I’m sorry. I scared you.” 

Laudna’s voice was brittle and bright. “No, it’s alright! I just didn’t know what to do.” 

“Laudna.” Her eyes met Imogen’s, red lightning fading from the purple irises. “I scared you.” 

Laudna shrugged uncomfortably. She wasn’t afraid of Imogen, she would never be afraid of her, could never do that. But that power, it terrified Laudna sometimes. It seemed to take control of her best friend and feed off of her anger. Laudna was scared that one day, her Imogen wouldn’t come back. 

But she only said, “No no. I just. I wasn’t expecting how much more powerful you’d gotten. Feels like I’ve been gone longer than a few days.” A weak smile forced its way out, nearly pleading with Imogen to drop it. She didn’t want to fight. 

Imogen walked over to Laudna and gently pulled her to the bed, sitting down beside her. “When I saw you go down... I lost it. I don’t even really remember what happened, everything just went white. When I came back, all of the buildings were destroyed. Just turned into rubble. Fearne and Orym were dead, Chetney was hurt, and I couldn’t see you. I couldn’t hear you. And then I saw your hand,” Imogen squeezed the hand she was holding and Laudna felt a tear drip down onto her arm, “your hand was just sticking out from a pile of rocks.” 

“I’m here now Imogen. I’m alright.” 

She looked up, eyes bright with tears. “Are you? Cause you were dead Laudna. You were gone and I... I tried calling on Deliliah to help but she was too weak to do anything. Was she with you? Were you stuck with her?” 

Laudna shook her head, her hair brushing against her bare ear and sending shivers up her own spine, unconsciously squeezing Imogen’s hand for comfort. “No, she wasn’t. No one was with me, I wasn’t really anywhere I don’t think? I don’t remember anything but a quiet darkness until I heard your voice.” 

“Was it - I mean, it was peaceful?” 

“Very peaceful. Sort of like a nice dream.” 

Imogen was very still beside Laudna, and Laudna could almost see the wheels turning in her mind. “Would you have preferred that? I mean, you didn’t get that the first time and you didn’t have Deliliah. I didn’t even think of that, I just-” A cold finger pressed against Imogen’s lips, startling her, and she looked up at Laudna. 

“I very much prefer being alive. I have so many things I still want to see, we have so much to do!” She couldn’t leave Imogen before helping her have the life she should have, the brilliance she deserved. 

Relaxing, Imogen once again grabbed Laudna’s hand and brought it to her lap, squeezing it between hers. “Good. I don’t like who I am without you around. It was scary.”

“Fun scary?” 

A weak chuckle left Imogen as the adrenaline finally began to fade. “No Laudna, I’m no good at that. It was just scary scary.” 

“We’ll figure it out, Imogen. I promise.” 

There was more to talk about, but for now the two women simply enjoyed the feeling of sitting side by side. Imogen leaned into the cooler body of Laudna and let it wash through her, soothing the fiery electricity running through her body. Laudna pressed against Imogen’s left side and closed her eyes, pretending the warmth and heartbeat were her own for one more moment. 

                                                         ~~~

While the group waited for Laudna and Imogen to return, Vex invited them to explore the grounds, pointing out the training grounds, the temples, and the kitchen where a late lunch was waiting for them.

Waving off Ashton’s offer to go burn off energy in the training area, Orym wandered away from the group. He felt strangely tired, as if he had just finished an intense workout but the earlier emotional storm had finally faded. It was almost as if it had never happened and he wondered if it truly had or if it was simply how his grief had affected his mind so soon after his own revivify. 

Stuck in his mind, he failed to see the woman waiting for him as he circled around back to the Sun Tree. “Orym.” He jumped, turning to see Keyleth smiling down at him. 

He bowed low. “Tempest. Thank you for your help today, we could not have done this without you.” 

She sat down on one of the Sun Tree’s large roots and patted the space beside her, waiting for Orym to join her. “Oh I don’t know. That group of yours seems rather resourceful and very determined. I’m just happy to have helped. And Orym, I’m not your boss anymore - you can call me Keyleth.” She paused, fingers trailing down the rough bark of the tree and leaving a small trail of wildflowers in their wake. “Are you alright?” 

“Of course. We’ve had a stressful couple of days, I’m sure I wasn’t acting my best. I’m sorry if I offended Lady de Rolo.” He had a faint memory of throwing one of Laudna’s ear cuffs at her and internally winced. 

But Keyleth waved his words away, “No worries. You did what you felt was needed and you said nothing that was untrue. But I’ve never seen you so... cold. You were vibrating with energy but you looked almost empty.” Eyes that had seen their fair share of loss pinned him in place. “Even when we lost Derrig and Will, you were never like that. I know I’m no longer your boss, but I am still the Voice of the Tempest. I’m concerned about you, Orym.” 

Orym fought the urge to squirm like a child - something about the Tempest gaze always made feel like a fumbling teenager. But she had seen so much, perhaps she would have advice. “I don’t know if I can even describe it. But when you were debating about bringing Laudna back, all of the emotions just became so muddled it’s as if they transformed into pure energy. I wasn’t thinking, I was just acting.” His voice dropped into a whisper. “I felt out of control. I never want to feel like that again.” 

There was a long pause and Orym realized how used to the Bell’s Hells he’d gotten - there was rarely a moment of silence among them and he was no longer comfortable simply sitting in it. But Keyleth was clearly thinking and even if he was no longer technically her guard, his training would not let him rush her. 

Finally, she sighed, her staff drooping in her hand. “I do apologize if I was unclear. I would never have not at least tried for Laudna, I simply wanted you all to know that there was no guarantee. Having that kind of let down... it’s painful. But I can imagine my words were unwelcome no matter how delicately I tried to choose them and I apologize. I’ll apologize to young Imogen as well.” 

He tried to murmur some brush off, but she ignored him. “As for what you were feeling... I cannot say that it will never happen again. You feel deeply Orym, and you’ve felt a lot of pain for someone so young. But I will tell you what someone once told me when I was struggling with a similar feeling. It all comes down to one word - family. You need enough control so that you can use it to protect you and yours. Harness those feelings, that rage, and it can be a powerful tool in battle.” 

“But Derrig always stressed control in movement and thought. How can I be controlled and yet act before thinking?” 

“I know it goes against what you know and how you learned, but sometimes life gives you skills you never asked for. If you don’t learn to use it, it’ll use you.” She paused again, thinking carefully. “I believe the genasi in your group, Ashton, would know something about that kind of concentrated energy. Perhaps you should ask them?” 

Orym had a vague memory of Ashton saying something to him during the resurrection ritual, but couldn’t seem to grasp what was said. He nodded, “I’ll ask him. Thank you Tempest.” She gave him a mildly reproachful look and he smiled cheekily up at her. “Keyleth.” 

She laughed and shoved herself up to her feet. “Good. I’ll always be around if you need advice, but you’ve got a good group. I think you’ll be just fine. Shall we go find some food?” 

Orym slid off the thick root and landed light on his feet, walking by her side back up to the castle. He needed to talk to Laudna, make sure they were alright, but that could wait until they left the city. For now, food and company sounded like the perfect way to end the day. 

                                                         ~~~

The sun had steadily moved across the sky as Laudna and Imogen sat in comfortable silence, content to enjoy the other’s presence. As the sun began to dip down behind the massive mountains that surrounded the city, a knock at the door jolted the pair out of their peace. 

“Come in!” Imogen called, assuming it was one of the Hells coming to collect them. But as the door swung open, her hand tightened on Laudna’s as she stiffened. 

Lady Vex’ahlia stepped in the room, holding something in her hand. “I apologize if I’m intruding. But everyone is beginning to gather for dinner and I wanted to return something to Laudna beforehand.” Her hand opened and the missing ear cuff sat neatly within it. 

Imogen glanced at Laudna, but as she appeared to be struck silent by the sight of the new Lady de Rolo, Imogen took control without thinking. “I’ll take it. We’ll be down in a few minutes, thank you.” She wanted the older woman out of the room - wanted to be out of this city - but knew the group needed a break and the Tempest needed to rest before returning them back to Jrusar. 

Lady Vex’ahlia closed her fist again, eyes on Laudna. “I would like to speak with you, Laudna. If that would be alright.” 

“Absolutely not.” The words were out of Imogen’s mouth before she had thought them. As the older woman’s eyes flicked to her, she hurried to smooth things over. “Anything you want to say to Laudna you can say in front of me.” 

But Lady Vex’ahlia simply looked back at Laudna once more. “Laudna, may I speak to you? I would prefer it to be alone, but I want you to be comfortable. 

Imogen felt a warm wash of anger wash over her at the woman’s audacity, but before she could open her mouth again, she felt a cool hand on her arm. She turned towards the dark eyes that she had silently thought of as home for so long and knew what Laudna was going to say before she said it, and felt her shoulders drop. “It’s alright Imogen. I’ll be down in a few minutes.” 

Imogen nodded and glared at the Lady de Rolo in warning as she made her way out of the room, the uncomfortable feeling of being left out prickling over her skin and causing the door to slam shut harder than she’d intended. 

Before the silence had a chance to become uncomfortable, Lady de Rolo took control of the situation, walking forward and holding Laudna’s ear cuff out. “Before anything else, I believe this belongs to you.” 

Laudna slowly took it, careful not to touch her hand - she knew most people found her cool skin uncomfortable. “Thank you, ah, Lady de Rolo.” 

“Call me Vex, please.” 

“Vex, okay.” Laudna glanced at the ear cuff in her hand and then nervously back up at Vex. She wanted to put it on right away, but her ear was currently covered by her hair and she really did not want Vex to see it again. 

Before she could even begin to think about asking, Vex seemed to understand and turned around, walking towards the broken vase. “This was a rather ugly vase, so I can’t say I’m sad to see it gone. May I ask what happened?” 

Laudna quickly moved to slide her ear cuff back on, feeling far less vulnerable as soon as the sensitive nerve endings were protected. “Just an accident Lady- Vex. I’m rather clumsy on a good day.” She didn’t think that Vex was like the other Lady of Whitestone, but she’d been wrong before. She wouldn’t let Imogen be blamed. 

“Not a problem. Like I said, quite the eyesore. An old family heirloom that my husband felt he had to use somewhere and I refused to have it in our living quarters.” Vex glanced over her shoulder, and upon seeing that Laudna was finished, turned the full force of her smile directly towards her. 

Laudna wasn’t sure what to do. What exactly was the protocol for meeting the new Lady of Whitestone when the former one had killed you as a message to the woman standing in front of you? Laudna didn’t think that any of the etiquette books she’d perused over the years would have anything to help her right now. 

While she was busy wondering what the hell one should do in this situation, Vex had picked herself up from where she was brushing the pieces of the vase together and walked back over to Laudna, stopping a few feet from her. Blue eyes ran over Laudna’s features, perhaps trying to see what had caught the attention of the Briarwoods. Laudna could feel the pressure from the rope tightening on her neck and resisted the urge to cover it with her hand. 

“Your friend, Orym, he said that I owed you. That you were killed for me, if not by me.” 

“No no, you didn’t do anything, you couldn’t have-” 

Vex raised a hand softly, cutting off Laudna’s rush of words. “It’s alright. He was correct. You lost your life because the former occupants of this castle were homicidal and cruel and wished to warn us away. Perhaps I wasn’t at fault, but that doesn’t mean I cannot feel a certain indebtedness to you, for what you lost.” 

“I don’t want your pity.” Voice thick with some emotion - perhaps even tears - Laudna flinched away from the thought. It was bad enough to be standing in front of the effortlessly elegant Lady Vex’ahlia while acutely aware of the cold metal covering her ears, she didn’t want the woman to think of her as a charity case. 

But Vex shook her head. “There is a difference between pity and sympathy. Perhaps even some empathy. Your life was taken from you, your family taken from you, your freedom taken from you. When I was young, my brother and I were taken from our mothers house and raised in a city that hated us. When we returned home, our mother and home had been burned, killed by a dragon. While I cannot truly imagine your pain, I can feel something for you that is not pity.” 

“Well,” Laudna shuffled her feet, still not comfortable with the attention, “you’ve repaid any debt you may feel. Thank you for helping my friends - and me, of course.” 

“I’m not sure that I’ll ever truly feel like that’s a debt that can be paid, but I’ll leave that under your control. Should you need help in the future, myself or my husband will aid you.” Vex paused, glancing out the window where the Sun Tree stood silhouetted against the setting sun. “We buried the other bodies when we could, treated them with dignity in death the way they weren’t afforded in life.”

Her eyes returned to Laudna’s, intense and reflecting the sun in a strangely fire-like way. “You are alive and I promise that as long as breath remains in my body or in yours, you will have an ally in Whitestone if you want it.” She smiled, breaking the intensity that had settled around them. “Though I love the city as my home, I understand why you are probably ready to leave. Shall we go join the others for dinner so that you may all find your beds sooner?” 

Nodding with relief, Laudna followed the woman out of the room, feeling some strange reassurance. Though they may look somewhat similar, they were nothing alike in personality. Laudna hadn’t realized she had been afraid of the possibility, but she felt steadier on her feet knowing that she wasn’t just some copy of Vex’ahlia. 

She was Laudna, formerly of Whitestone, and she was going to take her second second chance and travel far with it.

[australian-desi]

Qurban Hua ~ Episode 1: Of Rakhis, Token White People and Mithai

So like I was playing the sims 4 and my sim’s only daughter (she has 5 kids - 4 sons, 1 daughter) just died from an accidental drowning on her eldest brother’s birthday party (but I quit without saving so she’s back to life). So that killed the whole gameplay mood. And I’ve decided to absolutely ignore my master’s degree (yes I’m going to be at uni for 5,000,000 years - fight me) I am going to liveblog both shows (Qurbaan Hua and Pavitra Bhagya coz that’s what was asked of me). My tolerance for shitty television has reduced since KZK so let’s see how long these liveblogs last....

So without further ado, here’s the first Liveblog of 2020: Qurban Hua (honestly just watching this show for Karan Jotwani’s face and physique) 

Ooh we’re in the hills, with Krishna’s bhansuri and the feelzzz of sanskar

So we’re in Uttarkhand (sorry if I botched the spelling) with moustache uncle and representative white dude who has come to ‘find himself’ 

Do not give a damn about the religious talk (also this white dude doesn’t even know who Ram ji is, he’s just here to drink some bhang, go to a wedding, witness some poverty and go back home) 

Moustache uncle is blind and we see this when he walks with a tree branch (no exaggeration) and his eyes closed. Nothing speaks ‘this person is blind’ than having them close their eyes for every shot 

SO MANS ISN’T EVEN BLIND - HE’S JUST MOTHERFKN COSPLAYING TO BE A BLIND PERSON 

honestly, what is this bakchodi where is my boi 

Yaar ab shivji ke gaane bhi sunne padenge, kya loge main characters ko introduce karne ke liye 

Ohhh he’s the head priest’s son and has become an ‘awara shehar waala’ rather than take over for his dad, who is too weak to carry the aag thaali (I do not know what it is called)

“daya aati hai mujhe Vyasji ki hassi par, pata nahi Vyasji ka launda, unki kaleje mein aag laga kar, shehar mein kaunsi aag bhuja raha hai?” So I thought what a weird dialogue, and then in the next fkn scene: 

THERE’S SOMEONE LITERALLY ON FIRE AND HE’S COME TO SAVE HER

Also behen, toda dimaag laga, the fire isn’t that bad yet, her fkn arms are so loosely tied, and she has the lung capacity to scream ‘aag aag’ rather than find a better way to save herself, and save her energy and breath so she doesn’t pass out. 

All these people and not one person calls the fire brigade 

They call Neel instead, coz he’s invincible 

Now comes a dramatic sequence of events

My man runs, unaffected by the spitting fire, there is another boi who is so happy to see him and willingly crouches just so mans can quite literally yeet himself on to the roof and break the window to save her. Not before giving some dramatic looks

A. Only her apartment was on fire, not the whole building, he could’ve easily taken the stairs. B. why was the fkn fire not spreading and C. It took him 3 seconds to get her out of that knot, so like as if she couldnt wriggle her hands out of it (maybe if she wasn’t wearing 300 chudiyas, she might’ve been able to) 

I would also thank the gods they gave him winter clothing with a high neck to wear (coz nothing is hotter to me than men in high neck sweaters - it highlights their jawlines, shows off their muscles and shows how long their neck is) #FashionTipsWithAustralianDesi 

OMG IT WAS A SCENE FOR A MOVIE OR SOMETHING OMG. OKAY YOU WIN FKN HELL. HINDI SERIALS: 1, AUSTRALIAN DESI: 29043284 

Look how adorable he looks

“Production? sorry mera naam actually  woh Neelkanth Bhatt Dhyani hai aur main baju-waale hotel mein chef hoon, mujhe laga tha aag lagi thi toh bachane aa gaya” 

Hahahah, noice mans is a chef. Also his name is longer than my life. And so far, in the 3 minutes I’ve watched of him, I really like him. Let’s hope he stays that way

Let’s be real, I watched the promos, I’m going to savour whatever niceness we get of him 

Okay so dude that looked at him, is the Pushkar/Rudra/Insert-comedic relief-younger-sibling, and basically said that our mans here is on a mission to save a girl every day. Wow what a hobby 

“Aag, Aag, continue, aag, aag, aag, continue” hahahah he’s slowly backing out of there 

Mans wants to do one good deed everyday - that’s a rare quality for a tellywood man (he does it because his sister does one good deed a day for his wellbeing - I don’t understand the logic but whatever)

OH MY FKN GOD WE HAVE AN ANJALI 

She’s made a fkn shrine for him (absolutely love the pictures though) 

And he calls his sister ‘Bhags’ - short for Bhagwan because she is god for him

I think these two could give Arnav-Anjali a run for their money 

...And she’s preggers - and so he doesn’t want her pregnancy to have any complications so he’s going to do one good deed a day

let’s see how shit blows in their face - is it a kamina husband, a manipulative mother or a cunning father 

Also gotta love how her husband is probably chilling while Neel is all like ‘MY DIDI’ 

No one: 

No one:

Not even Neil’s fkn mother 

Saraswati: NEIL IS COMING AFTER 3 MONTHS EVERYTHING MUST BE PERFECT 

Welcome Saraswati Anjali 

This man is completely evil. Change my mind. 

So they went with the Kamina husband/brother-in-law 

Who has a problem that Neel is a chef. But let’s be real he wants Neel to be a chef so he could become the head priest 

I AM ONTO YOU. THIS ISN’T MY FIRST RODEO 

And she’s just here to talk about the successes and accomplishments of her brother, because like Anjali, she has nothing better to do in life 

Whatever her husband says goes right over my head, also it’s Saras-Wati not Sarasti 

So proud of his Personal Protective Equipment. Thank god a career being shown properly

Also this looks really small and homely for an industrial kitchen 

So the ‘villain’ of his life is here. Little does he know, that whether he keeps his job or not does not matter, all that matters is that his rakhi is never removed. 

“Main apni behen ko bhool nahi sakta, isliye yeh rakhi agle raksha bhandhan tak, nahi utregi” ummm how bad is your memory that you forget your sister unless there’s a rakhi on your wrist???? 

“Mere kitchen mein yeh sab bilkul allowed nahi hai, no rings, no watches, aur yeh tacky rakhi toh bilkul nahi, afterall hygeine har cook ki responsibility hoti hai” 

“Yeh rakhi toh na utregi sir,” “acha toh phir yeh jo haath mein hai, woh meri kitchen mein khaana nahi bana sakte hai” 

Wow he didn’t have to call the rakhi tacky. Also like, couldn’t you have a dimaag like Arnav, and keep them in a little box, and then show your sister like “look I kept all your rakhis” 

Now watch him cook with one hand, just to prove a point 

TOLD YA 

Also the dude seemed pretty happy with him, I would’ve been like “banda chuthiya ho gaya hai” 

Also his friend is really annoying me with his overreactions to simple things 

He’s saying that he’s going to make the Singoria for the ‘bhakts’ and not for his dad, coz he doesn’t think he needs to ask for an apology to follow his heart 

I enjoy this content, I like this boi. At least he stands by his actions

“Shaakal ko khush karne ke liye jijaji kaafi hai” Wow the Shyam vibes from his jijaji are through the roof 

He said that line like he’s plotting murder or something with the fire reflected on his face

Also can they stop with the Kedarnath soundtrack 

Lol this procession is still going on, it’s been going on for like 3 days. Like, in the time Neel did his wall climbing stunt, saved a woman who was ‘on fire’, stopped a film shoot, told his whole life story and his love obsession for his sister, went through an inspection and made food for a whole restaurant while sassing his boss, and the procession is still going on

 Omg no, now there’s a fkn murgi - WHICH IS ALIVE HOW IS THIS A PROBLEM, JUST MOVE IT AND CONTINUE WALKING 

I mean making him slip would’ve been more fun than a fkn murgi stopping him - also its alive so how is this an apshagun? Imma skip this I cannot 

NOW FKN FAKE ANJALI IS LIKE “the chicken is a mother, do not touch her eggs, she will not look after her children and then they will never be able to feel the mother-child love” 

Gurl, its a chicken. Chill. If it had this much feeling, it would not let go of it’s child 

Okay, here’s a wild thought - why not just walk around it

The chicken isn’t even taking over the whole step, if everyone walks in a single file, you should be able to pass the chicken

but if we use our brains how will this be a hindi serial 

Man fkn hell this the problem in India, the fkn mindset that “dharm se badke aur kuch nahi hai” is2g if people move away from that thought, life would be easier

Also Sarasti is just here caressing her belly, being all like motherhood is the biggest dharm #OhSnap #MicDrop 

So Vyasji has said his first lines of the show and basically whatever I’m understanding is that dharm should be a part of your life, not your whole life and disregarding emotions for your dharm is in fact the opposite of dharm. Wow the man has some sense. Also the actor looks done and does not seem into it - I do not blame him one bit 

And fake Anjali is all like “yay papa is on my side - fuck you husband” 

NEEL YOU FKN IDIOT, IT’S JUST A BAG COULDN’T YOU TAKE IT WITH YOU, NOW THE SANGORIA ARE GONNA GET MISPLACED I ALREADY KNOW. 

ab yeh kaun hai, jo Dhoom ke set se yahan aa gaya 

and he took the wrong bag - well done Neel, that’s all on you

OMG AT LEAST HE REALISED THANK GOD 

Great, now he’s gonna do some Dhoom-esque stunts 

How dumb is the other dude, like there’s someone that’s literally chasing you and you aren’t going to stop to ask them why

Omg he’s actually grabbing it. Is2g if the prasad is completely fine still, Imma flip 

Yeh chal kya raha hai? Is the other dude literally fighting for the supposed kachoris? 

Oh wow its a wamen. And here we begin the #Romance  

HE LITERALLY JUST SAW HER HAIR AND IS SMITTEN - ARE YOU THAT DESPERATE MY FRIEND 

Lovely, he got distracted and she’s gone off with his Sangoria 

Ofcourse he’s like a girl tricked me, now it’s an ego thing. At least he’s admitting it to be an ego ting 

But also like dude do you not believe women can be cunning? I mean we’re literally known for possessing that single trait 

Wow look how happy she is for some Sangoria - and look how dumb she is for not questioning the dude that was chasing her as to why was he after the bag 

OF-FUCKING-COURSE she had to be a social worker who helps the gareeb bachche 

I gotta love how she’s like, why is there mithai here instead of kachoris - proceeds to eat them because the kids were like we like mithai

Behen, kya aap kisi ka bhi khaana leke kha leti ho? 

Like why wouldn’t you put two and two together 

Why would someone be ready to fight you for this mithai. Do you have any logical thinking skills? 

Me when I check my results. The absolute shock horror on his face is sending me 

"Tum pahadi ho?” “Haan aur sharminda bhi” “Itni der se tumhara peecha kar raha tha, tab nahi samajh aaya?” “Nahin mujhe laga koi chor badmaash hai,” 

Love the logic, love that she was so ashamed that she didn’t bother to give his mithai back - what is this character 

She’s literally telling him how to handle his father that she’s never met. 

Dude if it was that easy, would he be this stressed? 

That was quick - she had video evidence that some gunde were making these kids become beggars, and got them arrested while also making Neel feel like he did his one good deed today and she conveniently has her own childcare 

Wow we have an evil maami too, and some random man wanting to kill our gurl

She’s basically saying how Neel will definitely forget to bring the bhog 

Little does she know he won’t forget, he’ll just have some misfortune which will cause him to not bring it

Now poor Sarasti is bringing her dad a shawl and convincing him to go change, but him being the brown dad he is, is all like “If only your idiotic brother was here, I would be sitting on the terrace watching this pooja, looking at him proudly, but he is a nalaayak and alas I am here,” 

He’s literally so salty that he wants to cook, it’s so funny, I can’t 

First of all, why is everyone just taunting Sarasti about her brother’s actions, like I get how close they are but they aren’t the same person??

Now she’s saying that he’s on his way - ah little does she know, he’s distracted by a wamen 

Omg he’s literally telling the story of the Prayag Pushp (a flower I think) “that only blooms when 2 true lovers meet for the first time, and no one has seen it bloom, and no one will see it bloom in this family, and with the same confidence, I am telling you your bhola will not come” wow the amount of trust in your son. I am loving it

Also like who wants to bet the flower is going to bloom when he marries this girl or when they have a dramatic meet up 

“Hey bhole baba, agli baar mujhe uss theeki shezwan sauce se mat milwana” Lol is he dumb or is he dumb 

OMG GOD IN THIS SERIAL IS EXTREMELY FAST. HE PRAYED 2 SECONDS BEFORE AND IN THE NEXT SECOND SHE’S IN FRONT OF HIM

She’s deaf as well, he’s literally calling her and she’s like nope, I am looking outside can only focus on one thing at a time 

“Bache hai kya, joh window seat ke liye itne excited ho rahe hai” “Sifaljiya kahi ka” Okay I’m loving the banter but also have no idea what she just called him 

“Kya kaha tumne? Kaunsi bhasha mein gaali di?” “Mars pe boli jaati hai yeh zubaan, gaye ho kabhi?” 

People I ship it! 

“Lokhar ka sir hai kya tumhaara?” This idiot 

Oh good its these ainvayi ke gunde, mans is never going to reach home in this decade  

And they’re on the bus to beat her? Very normal

And ofcourse this our mans’ good deed of the day

“Kya ho gaya bhai ji? Koi takleef?” Love this man so much. The sass and the politeness how does he do it? 

“Teri saki lagti hai kya?” “Meri patni hai yeh” wow man, like honestly dost bol deta, behen bol deta. Nahi she is now my wife for rescuing purposes (what an Omkara thing to do) 

OMG YES THEIR BACKGROUND SCORE IS KURBAAN HUA FROM KURBAAN - I LOVE THAT SONG 

So the episode ends here and wow this took so long to do coz they decided to make the episode 40 minutes long. So far I like it. I just wish the girl becomes smarter (also what even is her name?)